RISON - Mayor Charles Roberts asked the Rison City Council for ideas on some possible ways to use the city's 40-acre industrial site along Hwy. 79, and the council also approved the purchase of a new "jetter" machine during Tuesday night's regular monthly meeting.Roberts told the city council that he recently met with officials from the C&L Electric Cooperated, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development and others to survey the undeveloped property located on Hwy. 79 across from the pole plant.The purpose of the meeting was to survey the land for the possibility of getting grant money to clear 10 acres. The property is currently covered in young timber.However, the mayor told the council the council that to be eligible for the grant, the city would have to survey of the property, and conduct endangered species and environmental impact studies. Roberts said he did not know if the cost of having those studies completed would be worth it for clearing 10 acres of land."Is it worth the investment?," he asked the council. The mayor nor the council came to any final conclusion.Roberts did mention some possible ways to use the land, suggesting putting an RV park there, promote it for a dry manufacturing plant to build something like tiny homes, or maybe turn it into a wildlife area. He also suggested just letting the timber continue to grow and eventually harvest it.Council member Bruce Grubb asked about selling it? The mayor agreed that could be an option.While no firm conclusion was reached, the mayor said he was still open to suggestions.Jetter After hearing about the cost of renting a jetter, the city council approved the purchase of buying a new one for $78,422 for the city's wastewater department. A jetter is a machine that uses a high-pressure hoses and nozzles to blast water into drains to clear blockages, remove tree roots, and scour pipe walls.Joe Freyer, utilit...
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